First Practice of 2018 Ushers in New Era

NORMAN — A new era of Oklahoma volleyball began Wednesday as the team opened its 2018 preseason with its first practices under head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton.

Gray-Walton – joined on the sidelines by first-year assistant coaches Jake Barreau and Megan Pendergast and volunteer assistant Kyle Walton – led her squad in a pair of training sessions at the newly-renovated McCasland Field House to kick off her inaugural season at the helm.

“My overall thoughts are we have great energy — really great energy,good passion, excitement to be in the gym again,” Gray-Walton said. “We took four months off from April to now, so I think everyone’s been really hungry.”

UP NEXT

Fans will have their first chance to preview the Sooners in an exhibition match on Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. CT against Arkansas at McCasland. Admission to the match is free. OU Athletics will introduce a clear bag policy and walk-through metal detectors at all home events this season; more information can be found here.

The Sooners open their 2018 campaign Aug. 24-25 in Dekalb, Ill., at the Northern Illinois Invitational, the first of three road tournaments for OU. Oklahoma then returns home Sept. 14-15 to host Northwestern State and Texas A&M in the OU Nike Invitational. Season and single-match tickets are on sale now.